What is the significance of Capernaum in the Bible?

Answer

Capernaum is mentioned in the New Testament but not in the Old Testament. It was a city situated on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum holds significance in Scripture as it was the chosen residence of Jesus after He was forced to leave Nazareth by the religious authorities (Luke 4:16,28-30). Additionally, Capernaum was the hometown of Peter and Andrew, where Jesus called them to be His followers (Matthew 4:18-20). In Capernaum, Jesus encountered Matthew, a tax collector, and summoned him to follow Him, as stated in «And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. », (Matthew 9:9).

Jesus frequently mentioned Capernaum and performed many miracles there (Matthew 8:5;John 6:17-21). He also taught in the synagogue (John 6:59;Mark 1:21). Despite being the site of numerous demonstrations of Jesus’ identity, the inhabitants of Capernaum rejected belief in Him. Jesus included Capernaum in His rebuke of several cities: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades” (Luke 10:13-15).

It was in Capernaum where Jesus healed theCenturion’s son (Matthew 8:5-13), the nobleman’s son (John 4:46-53), Simon Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:30-31), and the paralytic (Matthew 9:1-2). In Capernaum, Jesus cast out an unclean spirit (Mark 1:21-25), raised Jairus’s daughter to life, and healed the woman with the bleeding issue (Mark 5:21-42).

The city of Capernaum represents many who have been exposed to the gospel, may enjoy attending church, and consider themselves Christians by association. The familiarity with Jesus and His Word gives them a false sense of assurance that they are right with God when in reality Jesus will one day say to them, “Away from me, you evildoers! I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21-23). The people of Capernaum heard and saw what Jesus did and said, yet they refused to believe (John 1:12; John 12:42). We can speculate as to why: would believing cost them too much? Would it disrupt their comfortable religious life? Would it challenge them to repent of sin and pride, love the unlovely, and give up all to follow (Luke 9:57-62; 4:25-33; John 6:59-66)? Capernaum had a greater opportunity than most cities to hear and believe in Christ, and the residents would be held to a higher standard of judgment (Luke 10:12; Matthew 11:24). Likewise, we will be judged according to the light we have been given (Matthew 5:29; Matthew 18:6; Luke 12:42-48). If God did not spare Capernaum due to their lack of faith, He will not spare those today who have heard the message, seen the evidence, and rejected His Son (2 Peter 2:4-10; Hebrews 6:4-6).